Slowly but surely, the progressive forces that control the power in the Vermont Legislature are doing what they can to weaken the quality of life that makes Vermont such a unique place to live.

The marijuana decriminalization bill is a prime example. The attitude seems to be that smoking pot is such a casual indiscretion there is no harm in letting users have their way with it.

Perhaps this could be added to the legislation: The warning to teenagers that smoking pot is okay but when your concentration levels fall to the point where your grades in school suffer, or if you are out on your own and can't keep a job, then you should know where your problems have originated.

Marijuana is the swamp where the drug culture breeds. An example of the insidiousness of the practice is Vancouver, British Columbia, a liberal-minded city where marijuana growing is okay. The relaxation of enforcement has led to an influx of criminal gangs competing to control what has become a $7 billion industry in British Columbia. The figures are not mine but come from The Economist Magazine (February 9-15, Page 41).

The magazine stated that Vancouver has become Canada's new center for drug-related violence "thanks to its importance as a hub for the production and export of marijuana." Are we witnessing an identical movement in Rutland?

The majority members of the Vermont Legislature are not getting the message that when we criticize their anti-business attitudes, we mean that they should concentrate on promoting "legitimate" businesses, and not the ones that are destroying lives.